Finding Quiet in a Noisy World
There is so much noise in the world we live in. The news. Our phones. Our emails. The headlines. The urgent requests. Screaming or crying children. Frustrated spouses. Noise, noise, and more noise. So, how is one to find some quiet? One of my favorite expressions comes from the Walking With Purpose bible studies I have used…Quiet your heart, and listen to God’s voice.
This beautiful advice can be hard to follow as a stay-at-home mother of three. All three of my children are usually awake by 6:00 AM. My husband leaves for work at 4:30 AM. (Yes, you read that right. He truly is the hardest working man I know.) For me, carving out time to quiet my heart is essential for maintaining peace in my home. It begins with waking up between 5 and 5:30AM to shower, get dressed, and have a flat white by myself. This is sacred time for me. Whether it is accompanied by Bible study, fiction reading, magazine browsing, or simply sitting in silence (usually the best option for me), my slow coffee mornings set the tone for the day.
Are there mornings when I spend this time listening to my almost nine month old son cry through the monitor? Yes, there most definitely are. Do I sometimes have to go into my daughters’ room to remind them that yes they may read quietly but no it is not time to get up yet? Also definitely. But either way, I protect this time to let my brain start the day in (relative) quiet and calm. If you don’t already do this, I highly recommend starting the practice. The best spot is a corner of your home that feels cozy and has a good view. Mine is sitting in the oversized rocking chair in my living room looking up at my fireplace, the grand piano I inherited from my grandfather, and the painting of a group of ballerinas about to go onstage that my father bought for me at an auction many many years ago. Atmospheric settings are not just for the books we read. Creating them is my favorite part of homemaking. It is always worth the effort to do so.
I also maintain a “quiet time” in our house every day after lunch. My daughters sometimes read books, play with play dough, or work on arts and crafts. The only rule is that they have to be quiet and they have to be independent. This did not happen overnight. It took years and working together to get into the routine we have now. My son does not always cooperate with the timing of this, so sometimes my quiet time includes baby play. This is where perspective comes in…Is it frustrating that I don’t get “me time” that day or is it a joyful surprise that I get to give him my full attention and bask in his smiles and giggles?
Quiet time and the time after my kids are in bed are the times for me to read deeply. Along with fully present play with my kids and time spent outdoors, this is one of my favorite ways to spend my time. Books can act as mirrors or windows. It is truly my favorite thing about fiction. When I take the time to slow down with a good book in my hand, I am reminded that none of us are alone in this world. The things we struggle with that feel so isolating sometimes are universal experiences that others have not only lived but written down into stories. There is so much beauty in that discovery.
So, what are you reading right now? What kinds of books are drawing you in these days? Are you finding solace in grief-stricken characters who somehow find the strength to continue living anyway? Are you escaping into a world of epic fantasy? Quietly reflecting on the people and things all around you? Whatever is pulling you into these stories—let it pull you. Embrace the quiet, and, if possible, hold a physical book in your hands as you do. I have found so much beauty in slowing down to find quiet in this noisy world, and I hope you find a way to do the same. I can’t wait to see what it does for you.
